Monday, August 19, 2013

World Series berth on line at AT&T Park as Red Sox, Giants nations clash

Last night on national television it was Ryan Dempster vs.
Alex Rodriguez at Fenway Park.

Tonight on national television it was another drama-filled
game with high intensity and great theater. It was Red Sox fans vs. Giants fans
at AT&T Park.

Mind you Giants fans, with 227 consecutive sellouts now at
AT&T Park, own their ballpark like the inner half of the plate. Let’s just
say Red Sox fans came in high and tight and packed the place.

Then the Giants threw a curveball.

In a classy move, the Giants produced a pre-game video
tribute to honor Boston and the victims of the marathon bombings then their
players showed off “B Strong” patches on their uniforms . Finally, after Boston
Marathon spectators Amanda North and Aaron Hern threw out the ceremonial first
pitches, Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline,” an eighth-inning tradition at Fenway
Park, was played before the Giants took the field.

After that it was friendly competition. Imagine that.

Red Sox Nation hasn’t invaded AT&T Park since 2010 when
Boston’s season crumbled under the weight of a foul tip that broke Dustin
Pedroia’sleft foot and San Francisco’s
season ended with its first World Series championship in 56 years. Prior to
that, Boston’s last visit to San Francisco peaked when Pedro Martinez grounded
out with the bases loaded against Noah Lowry with both teams’ fans on their
feet and yelling at the top of their lungs. That was on June 19, 2004, the year
when the Red Sox went on to win their first World Series championship in 86
years.

In other words, each time the Red Sox and Giants have played
in San Francisco, one of the teams has finished the season as World Champs.
Hence, the stakes are high whenever these teams get together in the City by the
Bay.

Here’s the kicker: The team that LOST the season series between
the Red Sox and Giants in those interleague match-ups recovered to win the Fall
Classic.

So while Red Sox fans rejoiced a brilliantly pitched game by
Jon Lester in Boston’s series-opening win last night, it was Giants fans ought
to feel like winners.